St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-25
PUBLIC OPINION.
1t Was Carelessness, Anyway.

Burlington Free Press.
1t makes little difference as to the
ethics of the Washington railroad ac-
cident which is right, the coroner's ju-
ry or the railroad officials. The cOro-
ner's jury declare that it was due to the
excessive speed of the train, while the
railroad authorities say that it was Oc-
casiOned by defective air-brakes.
Carelessness and careless men, which
is culpable, will explain either of the
reasons.
Careless Smokers.
Rutland Herald.
1t appears that the million dollar
fire which occurred in Pittsburg a few
nights ago was caused by smoker
throwing his match into a waste paper
basket. Similar carelessness has caus-
ed fires in other cities and towns al
most as often as anything else. There
were 7O6 fire alarms in the city of New
York through the quarter last ended,
and 385 of the fires were caused by
carelessness. Smokers were RESPONSE
BILE for SO, and fireworks for 10. If
men must smoke they had better be
careful to cOnfine their material to to-
baccO and the scope of their operations
to themselves. But what's the use in
smoking, anyhow7 1t is a great waste
and a worse nuisance.
why the Eagle Supports Cleveland.
Brooklyn Eagle
The Eagle, unlike the World, be-
lieves that the administration of Presi-
dent Cleveland has been capable, eff
fective, wise, and is more popular than
any administration since Abraham
lntc hn
So believing, and believing that such
is the opinion of the masses, the Eagle
supports the administration, which it
has never fattered, of which it has
never asked any gift but good govern
ment to the nation, and concerning
which it has shown that alacrity to
presume or desire evil which would be
evident, if we sailed these columns
with all the dirty slurs of dirty minds
against it, gathered with impish skill
from the stews of the American press.
The Editors at Fault.
N z. World Dem.
We do not consider that President
Cleveland is so much responsible for
this failure and the consequent disaf-
lection as are the editors of the party
journals and the leaders. They have
been silent when they should have
spoken. They have fattered him hy-
pOcritically when they should have
told the truth. How could it be ex-
pected that even a well meaning and
honest man, inexperienced in national
affairs and unacquainted with the
country and it's public men, should
correct his mistakes and act wisely
when both the mugwumps, on whom
he has leaned, and his own party
friends have persisted in representing
to him that his errors were marvellous
exhibitions of discretion and that his
FLANDERS were most sagaciOus strokes
of craftsmanship
Preached There Himself.
Fall River EUeasing Nesos.
In the death of Asa t. Barron, New
Hampshire has lost her most famous
hotel proprietor and the man who,
above all others, built up the White
Mountain trade to it's present popular
lty: He had an ungovernable temper
and confirmed habit of profanity,
and ruled his employees with a rod of
iron. He was great admirer of
Beecher, however, and the noted di-
vine hOnOred the Twin Mountain house
s..
On one occasion an elderly lady ar
rived at this hotel on Saturday, and
asked Mr.. Asa Barron if Mr.. Beecher
would preach there tomorrow. Mr..
Barron was an occasional joker, and
he replied with a sweetness which was
more than natural, "Madame, am Mr..
Beecher and shall preach here to-
morrow afternoon" The lady's sur
xxyI,n CHI II,
was addressing, can better be imag-
ined than described.
How the PrOhibitory Law is Weakened.
Newport Express.
There is one feature of the prOhibi-
tory law which justices of the peace
are too often inclined to overlook.
When an intoxicated person has been
brought before the court it is a part of
the duty of the justice to take his dis
closure as to where and of whom the
liquor was procured. The party may
be imprisoned if he refuses to disclose.
In many cases the court has been sat
isfied to simply impose fine without
insisting upon disclosure. In this way
the law loses more than half its force |
is terror to evil doors. No morbid |
sympathy for the offender should de-
ter the court from carrying out the
law to its full extent. We wonder
that there is such sentiment abroad
which seeks to protect the drunkard
and the rumseller against the general
good order of society. Parties who
will converse together freely over
what they know concerning the guilt
of parties, will become absolutely de-
void of intelligence when questioned
Dy an officer If the law. This is not
right. 1t weahens the law, hampers
honest officials who are trying to en-
Orce the statutes, and encourages
criminals